Friday, September 4, 2015

"When there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always enough time." - Abdul' Baha

The one thing we have in this life is time, and none of us knows how much. Lives are cut short by accidents, carelessness, crimes of violence, civil wars and sudden death by natural causes. Time is precious -- yet, it is also an illusion. When we have fun, time flies by! When we stand in a long line, time takes forever. Time heals all wounds, and time after time, we run out of time...or we run our best time ever.Contemporary research indicates that thinking of others instead of ourselves has a direct effect on our health in general and our heart in specific. This gives us more time to be alive. Psychological Science suggests that empathy, kindness and thinking of others has a stimulating effect on the vagus nerve. "The vagus regulates how efficiently heart rate changes with breathing and, in general,

the greater its tone, the higher the heart-rate variability and the lower the risk for cardiovascular disease and other major killers. It may also play a role in regulating glucose levels and immune responses." Maia Szalavitz, neuroscience journalist for TIME.com and co-author of Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential — and Endangered.Science confirms what all the great spiritual teachers have proclaimed:Let your vision be world embracing rather than confined to your own selves. Only when you see beyond yourself will you have peace of mind.A human being devoid of empathy, compassion and kindness is neither fit nor healthy, no matter what shape they sculpt from muscles and tendons. All the push-ups, leg lifts and/or isometrics in the world will not compensate for a heart hardened by disregard for humanity. INCREASING IN KINDNESS INCREASES YOUR FITNESS.Felicia Lawson -Your Personal Fitness Trainer.